Graduate Students’ Perceptions of the Impact of the Alternative National English Course on the Improvement of Their English Language Learning and Their Learning Challenges at the University of Jordan

Abstract

This qualitative study addressed the English language learning needs and challenges expressed by a sample of 22 postgraduate students from diversified faculties in the University of Jordan. These students were required to take the Alternative National English course. They  wrote a self-report reflecting on their English language learning needs and challenges in the first semester, 2016. The majority of these students endorsed the high achievement attributed to the contribution of the above course. Among the challenges they encountered, according to them, encompassed the positive change they experienced in being familiar with new vocabularies, new grammatical rules and becoming more proficient in reading and writing skills. On the basis of these findings, the study recommended the incorporation and focusing on the gains students got from the course to be considered in the upcoming semesters. Also the students’ challenges in learning English should be taken into consideration. The various needs expressed by the participants should be fulfilled by teachers who teach graduate English courses.

Keywords: English language learning, TOEFL, National English course, teaching English